Stalk cutter.



F. B. KENDALL.

STALK CUTTER.

(Applicatiqn filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 687.757. Patented Dec. 3, 190i.

3 ES. INVENDBOI. M QQZMMZfiWZ.

Patented Dec. 3, I901.

F. B. KENDALL.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.).

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENtOr m: "cams PETERS 00,, PNDlc-LITNQ. msamorrm ac No. 687.757. Patented Dec. 3, 190i.

F. B. KENDALL.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application filed. Jan. 28, 1901.) (No Model.) \o A 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

x. "Y Q h J i I 1\ h I k INVEN COI.

THE mums PETERS cu, PHQTO-UTHO. wnsnmcmu, n. c

No. 687,757. Patented Dec. 3, l90l.

' F. B. KENDALL.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

INVENDBOI. I

WILENE E No. 687,757. Patented Dec. 3, l90|.

F. B. KENDALL.

STALK BUTTER.

, A ncmon med Jan. 28, 1901.) (N0 MOIIQIJ 5 sh6BtS-Si1e6i 5.

NAGNESSS. I 4 lmvm tor.

25 on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

FRANCIS B. KENDALL, OF MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWELVE- THIRTEENTI-IS TO J. H. HANNA, OF MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS, AND HENRY CROSBY, CHARLES J. WINN, EVERETT S. HARKRADER, FRANK TERREY, STEELE C. FUGATE, J. SHIRLEY HAMILTON, CHARLES A. WVARNER, JAMES O. ASHENHURST, AND W. SPENCER RYAN, OF VIOLA, ILLINOIS.

STALK CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,757, dated December 1901- Application filed January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,158. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. KENDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monmouth, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apre pertains to make and use the same.

The object in view is to provide a simple and efiective machine that will out three rows ofstalks at the same time.

The novel construction and arrangement I 5 of the several parts are hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which form a part of this specification, like figures indicate like parts 2e throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side view of the stalk-cutter. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the machine without any covering over the revolving cutting-knives. Fig. 3 is a vertical section view Fig. 4 is a vertical section view on the line 2 2 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section view of the center roller or revolving cutter on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical section view on the line '30 4 4' in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 represents aspring-steel cylinder or drum to be placed in each roller, filling the space in the central part of the roller in such a manner as to prevent cut stalks or trash from clogging the cutting-knives, the

35 drum being shown in its place in the roller at a: in Fig. 6.

Reference new being had to the accompanying drawings bynumerals, 1 represents the main frame of the stalk-cutter, which is made so of angle-steel.

2 is the axle, and 3 3 the two wheels which carry the weight of the machine, the axle and wheels being adjustable up or down by turning the screw 4, which regulates the depth 15 the cutting-knives go into the ground. The

screw 4. being placed in the center of the ma chine, the one screw is all that is necessary iron heads 6, which are journaled in the castiron bearings 7 7 secured to the main frame, the center roller being journaled in bearings, which are secured to the steel bow or draw-bar 8, as shown at 9 9 and the drawbar 8 being attached to the hooks 10 10*,which are secured to the axle.

11 is a square bar of iron, the ends of which are journaled in the bearings 12 13, which are secured to the main frame.

14 is a lever, and 15 15 are lifting-arms, all secured to the bar 11 to raise or lower the center roller of cutting-knives. The bearing 13 also forms a ratchet for locking the lever.

16 16 are bearings secured to the drawbar 8'.

17 17 are rods which connect the liftingarms with the draw-bar 8, the two rods having apinthrough their-lower ends underneath the bearings 16 16 which supports the weight of the draw-bar 8 and the center roller of' revolving cutting-knives when raised up off of the ground.

18 18 are coil-springs attached to the rods 17 17 between the collars 19 19 and the bearings 16 16 which when the lever is thrown back apply more weight or pressure on the cutting-knives. The springs also serve the purpose of breaking the jar and permitting the roller or cutting-knives to rise up and take the strain off of the lever and ratchet in passing over uneven ground.

20 represents the drag-hooks for drawing the stalks of corn straight with the row, so the stalks all come under the cutting-knives. The drag-hooks being attached loosely to the pivot 21 in the center of the bars 22, which are secured to the main frame, permits the hooks to swing around with the machine without bending the hooks in turning around at the end of the rows, the hooks swinging back to their place straight with the row when the machine is turned around square with the rows.

In operating the machine when the driver gets to the field the screw is turned to the right, which raises the wheels and axle and lets all of the cutting-knives down into the ground in position for cutting the stalks, it not being necessary to operate the screw any more until the entire field of stalks is cut, when the screw is turned to the left, which lets the wheels and axle down and raises the frame and cutting-knives clear of the ground in position to go on the road. When turning around at the end of the rows, the center roller is raised clear of the ground by throwing the lever forward, the machine then being easily turned with the two outside rollers on the ground. After the machine is turned around the lever is thrown back and the center roller let down to the ground again. It will readily be seen from the drawings that the two outside rollers are placed forward from the center of the main frame, which construction, with the arrangement of the center roller with the two coil-springs, balances the machine perfectly, and thus eliminates'all neck draft from the horses necks.

The two bearings '7 have a slot 7 placed in a line with the center of the main frame, the points of the spindles passing through the slots in which the spindles work up or down as the screw is turned either to the right or to the left, the two wheels and axle being placed in the central part of the machine be- 1. A stalk cutter, comprising the main frame with bearings secured thereto and revolving cutters journaled in the said bearings, an adjustable axle and wheels attached to the axle, with the screw placed in the center of the main frame and working in a corresponding thread cut in the center of the axle, for adjusting the axle and wheels, with the points of the spindle of the axle passing through a slot in the bearings secured to the main frame, and working up or down in the said slot, as the screw is turned either to the right or to the left, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a stalk-cutter, the combination comprising the main frame, the adjustable axle and wheels, a screw placed at the center of the main frame, passing through the center of the axle, the draw-bar 8 attached to the said axle, bearings secured to the said drawbar, and supporting the center roller of re- Volvin g cutting-knives at the rear of the main frame, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a three-rowstalk-cutter, the combination comprising the main frame, bearings secured thereto, revolving cutters journaled in the said bearings, with the two outside revolving cutters placed forward from the center of the main frame, an adjustable axle and wheels attached to the axle, with a screw placed in the center of the main frame, a draw-bar attached to the said adjustable axle, and supporting the center revolving cuttingknives at the rear of the main frame, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS B. KENDALL.

Witnesses:

J. H. HANNA, E. P. GRAHAM. 

